Day Creek students with unique stories are all around us.  Did you know that some of those stories include adoption? DCIS journalism took some time to meet some of these students.

Adoption is when a child is given to another family for a variety of reasons. Once a child is placed with an adoptive family, the birth parents cannot regain custody of the child. The adoption process can take months or even years.

The purpose of being adopted is to find a family that will provide love and care, though it might feel strange at first.

“It felt weird, and uncomfortable because I didn’t know them. I would say that I would want to go back to my birth parents,” said Katie C.

If birth parents are unable to care for their child, adoptive parents jump in and agree to provide what is needed.  Once the adoption is complete, an adopted child is the responsibility of the parents, just like a blood-related child.

Some adopted kids have been moved from family to family. Wesley A., an adoptee, had been moved around a lot. He’s lived in Georgia, then Portland, then California because he moved with different families.  “They know I need some help with another family and that I needed to be loved a lot, ” Wesley said.

When a variety of 8th graders were asked for their opinion about adoption, they  responded differently.  “I believe that if the family gave [a child] a better life, then everything would be okay,” said Gavin B.

Some adoptions have been challenging, while others have gone smoothly. Each family should have a special bond. No matter what, everyone should be happy.